BA (Hons) Philosophy, Religion and Ethics

In this module, you will explore some core ideas and challenges that come from living alongside other beings, both human and non-human. You’ll look at some key ideas and texts from the history of philosophy and politics, and compare to contemporary case studies. You will discuss questions like the nature and extent of freedom, what a society needs to have if it’s to be fair and just, why we live with others, and whether societies can fail.

This module introduces you to key foundational philosophical and theological questions about existence, meaning, and the nature of reality. Through a critical exploration of different theisms and atheisms, the module will examine diverse perspectives on topics like the origins of the cosmos, human uniqueness, the problem of evil, human and nonhuman salvation and purpose.

By engaging with different tools of analysis, for example from the philosophy of religion, history, theology, and the social sciences, you will have the opportunity to begin to develop your own reasoned positions on some of the most enduring questions about God, humanity, and the wider universe.

This module will offer students an opportunity to gain valuable interdisciplinary skills by analysing the way stories are used in history, fictional and creative literature, philosophy, and theology. Through a consideration of some of the most pertinent narratives relative to the contemporary world, such as stories around empire and decolonization, technology, nationalism, and the environment, students will have an opportunity to think about how stories have been told through history, literature, and theology, and how they shape understanding, create meaning, and foster shared community.

Written texts form an important part of many religious traditions. Rituals and cultural practices can also be considered “texts”, symbols that tell us something about the people who do them. In this module, we’ll look at some specific examples of texts—written and performed—and think about how they “speak” to us. With a focus on the Christian Bible, the module shows how one text opens up to many different interpretations, varying across times and cultures. We’ll explore what happens when people try to interpret such a famous text and compare the history of the Bible to other examples of texts. During this module, you’ll also reflect on your journey through the first year of university and plan for your future studies.

This module gives you the opportunity to reflect on the impact of technology on the Arts and Humanities, including how it shapes our ideas of how to live a good life. You will explore key themes such as consent, accountability, surveillance, and the attention economy, while examining the opportunities for creativity, transformation and reinvention that arise from digital technologies, as well as the potential for diversity, accessibility and inclusion.

In practical terms, you will start to build on your current digital skills and practices, explore ways of using digital technologies to develop and support your own learning.

Beloved and favoured by God, Abraham/Ibrahim is an important figure in both the Qur’an and the Bible. Christians, Muslims, and Jews have all claimed to be the true descendants of Abraham and, therefore, the sole inheritors of God’s favour. More recently, the term “Abrahamic Religions” has been used by politicians, religious leaders, and normal people to express a fundamental similarity between Christianity, Islam, and Judaism.

On this module, you will analyse and evaluate different discussions of Abraham to understand how this scriptural figure has been imagined by generations of religious and non-religious people. As you do so, you will see how this ancient story has been used to mark out differences between communities and to open up new paths for dialogue. By studying Abraham, you will gain a greater understanding of the place of religion in the twenty-first century.

This module explores the philosophical and theological dimensions of work, with a particular focus on the professional working environment in the 21st century. It encourages students to integrate their academic learning with real-world experience, preparing them for meaningful and reflective engagement in the workplace.

Students will undertake 50 hours of dedicated real-world experience, providing a practical context in which to explore and critically reflect upon the nature, purpose, and challenges of their time after university. This experiential component supports students in identifying their vocational aspirations and equips them with the tools to navigate complex professional settings.

Through interdisciplinary inquiry and reflective practice, students will examine how philosophical and theological traditions inform contemporary understandings of work,

identity, ethics, and purpose. The module fosters personal development, career readiness, and strategic thinking about life beyond university.

This module explores how religious and philosophical movements, ideologies, and communities have shaped—and continue to shape—the modern world. Through case studies such as the religious right in Christianity in the United States, global decolonizing movements, anti-speciesism, transhumanism, and disability activism, students will critically examine the intersection of religion, politics, and identity. The module also emphasises interfaith dialogue and the development of transferable skills such as respectful communication, critical listening, and engaging with controversial or challenging viewpoints.

This module invites you to critically explore how foundational philosophical and theological ideas about virtue and values have been reinterpreted in contemporary contexts to address the enduring question: What does it mean to live a good human life?

Drawing on a diverse range of historical and cultural perspectives—such as Homer’s warrior-hero in the Iliad, Aeschylus’ tragic figure Agamemnon, Indigenous relational worldviews, and Buddhist philosophies of no-self—you will examine how conceptions of humanness and virtue have evolved over time. The module traces how these ideas have been reimagined by contemporary thinkers in response to modern ethical challenges.

By engaging with these rearticulations, you will evaluate how historical accounts of virtue continue to shape contemporary understandings of justice, character, and the good life. This critical engagement will encourage you to reflect on competing moral frameworks, question prevailing cultural narratives, and develop the skills to navigate ethical disagreement and seek common ground.

This module invites students to explore the dynamic intersection between theology, philosophy, and creative expression. It serves as a pivotal experience, bringing to fruition the programme’s ethos: Developing students who can creatively apply subject knowledge to complex problems to find innovative solutions.

Students will engage with the concept of creativity both as a subject of philosophical and theological reflection and as a method of enquiry. Themes such as the Imago Dei and the nature of human creativity will be examined alongside the transformative power of artistic and imaginative practices in expressing and interrogating theological and philosophical ideas.

The module will include interactive sessions that may include to cultural sites (such as art galleries, gardens, etc.), and will explore diverse creative media including music, drama, poetry, calligraphy, dance, stained glass, gaming, and world-building. These experiences will provide a rich context for understanding how creative practices can illuminate and challenge theological and philosophical thought.

Central to the module is a creative project in which students identify a philosophical or theological idea, text, issue, or problem and respond through a chosen creative medium. This will be accompanied by a critical reflection on the creative process, the theoretical frameworks employed, and the insights gained.

This module builds on interests and achievements picked up during levels 4 and 5. With the support of a named member of academic staff, you will work independently to design, develop and complete an independent piece of academic work. This work could be a written dissertation or it could be an independent project. The topic you choose is up to you, but focus of the work should be within the broad areas covered by the programme. Timetabled workshops will help you research your topic, plan your project, and complete the work on time.